When we first met Chris Pickens on a Shoestring Adventure in Havasupai, he was about to undergo a big life change. As a trailer editor in the film industry, he found himself increasingly frustrated to be stuck in an edit bay 50 plus hours a week, so he traded in his day job for the unknown. Since then, we have enjoyed watching his journey unfold.

I decided to start living for me and to start achieving my dreams today instead of someday.

Chris discovered his love for the outdoors only about 4 years ago after a breakup, when he began hiking as a form of therapy. Snapping photos during these hikes, he also discovered his love for photography. As a solo traveler, Chris is not afraid to step into the frame, allowing us to follow him around the globe quite literally and inviting us deeper into the moment through his honest storytelling.

Learn more about our friend Chris in the interview below, including his advice for Shoestring Warriors considering a similar life change, as well as tips for perfecting your self-portraits!

Shoestring Warrior: Chris

Hometown:

Durant, OK

Current Location:

Santa Monica, CA

Profession:

Freelance Trailer Editor/Photographer

What are your passions outside of work?

I mostly enjoy being outside as much as I can – surfing, hiking, camping, and photography. I love reading books and discussing movies with friends. I’m always planning my next travel destination

How would you describe your level of camping experience?

Advanced

Shoestring Adventures Trip Completed:

Tell us about yourself!

I was born and raised in Oklahoma and moved to Los Angeles about 10 years ago to pursue a career in the film industry. I’m a bit of an introvert; which is perhaps part of the reason I chose a profession where I found myself alone in a dark room most of the time. It was only about 4 years ago that I discovered my love for being outdoors and seeing the natural world. I was going through a break-up and decided to go on hikes around L.A. as a form of therapy. I began snapping photos during these hikes with my phone and my love for photography began.

Photo by Chris Pickens

A year ago, you made a big life change. Can you tell us about this change and what inspired you to take the leap?

I chose to pursue a career in film because I’m a cinephile at heart but I increasingly found myself frustrated to be stuck in an edit bay 50 plus hours a week. I wanted to travel more and wasn’t happy relegating my travel time to weekends and holidays. I had a long conversation with my dad and he mentioned that he had had many plans to travel and see the country when he retired, but now, due to his health, he was unable to pursue those goals.

So with my recent bouts of unhappiness with my work and my dad’s regrets lingering in my mind, I decided to start living for me and to start achieving my dreams today instead of someday.

Photo by Chris Pickens

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself over the past year?

My resilience. More often than not, things don’t go as smoothly initially planned. Especially when venturing on a new path. I went to SE Asia for 3 months last year and it was full of ups and downs but I took each bump in stride and learned from it to hopefully be better prepared for the next one.

Photo by Chris Pickens

Do you have any advice for adventurers considering a similar life change?

Prepare first then you just have to go for it. The timing will never be perfect. I wasn’t quite sure what the future was going to hold but I wanted to be semi-ready. I saved up money and cut out unnecessary expenditures to live more minimalistically and frugally. I knew that I wanted to take at least a year off so I budgeted and calculated what I would need and I discovered that it actually wasn’t much especially when I cut out most of the luxuries that I had initially thought were necessities in life.

Prepare first then you just have to go for it. The timing will never be perfect.

Photo by Chris Pickens

Do you have any tips for solo travelers wanting to take self portraits?

Always carry a tripod! I love introducing a human element in my shots for a bit of scale or intrigue so I’m constantly stepping into frame since I’m often by myself. There’s always a chance you can find a branch or rock to set your camera on but having a tripod is almost necessary if you want to take shots of yourself on your trip. I typically explore an area a bit, looking for angles and composition, then once I have my set-up I decide where I will stand and set my camera’s focus on that point. At this moment, I usually set a timer or use a remote and I almost always have my camera to burst mode so that it can take multiple shots which comes in handy when you’re so excited to be outside that you find yourself jumping for joy. Now, I have a camera with wifi that syncs to my phone via an app so I can use that as my remote and see exactly where I’m standing in frame.

Photo by Chris Pickens

What is your favorite piece of gear to bring on your travels?

I go on a lot of road trips and I never leave without my ChargeIt Jump portable power pack. It’s small (3”x5.5”) but has enough juice to jump a car if you or someone is stranded on the side of the road while also having 2 USB ports to charge devices and a built in flashlight. The best part is that you can charge it in your car’s outlet while you’re driving.

As a trip alumni, can you share your favorite Shoestring Adventures memory from Havasupai?

My favorite memory was the post-trip lunch we had together after we made our final, grueling hike out of the canyon. I didn’t know anyone on the trip but after a few days of hiking in the desert heat, swimming in turquoise water, and cooking some amazing meals around camp I felt like we had all been friends forever.

Photo by Cameron Gardner in Havasupai

Where to next?

I have several international and domestic trips in the works for this year but the next immediate destination is New Zealand. I’m slightly stoked.

The perfect s’more (or other campfire dessert)?

While it may be sacrilege, I’ve never been a huge fan of s’mores. However, I always pack a little bag of Reese’s mini peanut butter cups.

Event Photos

Time

march 16 (Friday) - 18 (Sunday)

Location

Joshua Tree National Park

Event Details

Curious about backpacking but feeling overwhelmed or intimidated? Join us for a backpacking adventure in Joshua Tree National Park!
This 2-night experience is designed to help beginners gain confidence in essential

Event Details

Curious about backpacking but feeling overwhelmed or intimidated? Join us for a backpacking adventure in Joshua Tree National Park!

This 2-night experience is designed to help beginners gain confidence in essential backcountry skills. Learn how to pack your bag, read a map, prepare a delicious meal outdoors, minimize your impact, and more!

We will get up-close-and-personal with the desert landscape as we head into the backcountry on the Boy Scout Trail, navigating the sandy washes and rock formations to our first wilderness campsite. We will continue our journey through the Wonderland of Rocks to Willow Hole, an oasis shaded by desert willows and frequented by bighorn sheep. Along the way, we will keep our eyes peeled for desert wildflower blooms, which are common in the Wonderland area. Finally, we will retrace our steps along the Boy Scout Trail for our final descent to Indian Cove and celebrate with a victory lunch at a local restaurant.

Highlights For This Adventure

Explore the wide open backcountry, mini-slot canyon and rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park away from the crowds

Go on a scavenger hunt to view early blooms during peak desert wildflower season

Stargaze far away from city lights and fall asleep to the sound of coyotes howling

Find out if scorpions really glow in the dark

Learn essential backcountry skills in a judgement-free environment

Included With Every Shoestring Adventure

Experienced Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified trip leaders

A supportive community of Shoestring Warriors

Gourmet backcountry meals

Triptographer will join to capture the memories

Edited photos 3 weeks after your trip ends

Shoestring Warrior Adventure Kit with curated souvenirs

Permits and reservations

Shoestring Adventures operates with special use permits. A portion of your ticket goes toward protecting and preserving this park for future generations.

Your Journey

Day 1: Meet at the Boy Scout trailhead in Indian Cove at 8:00am, where we will begin and end our journey. After orientation, we will caravan to another Boy Scout trail entrance for a flat 2.4-mi out-and-back hike to cache (or store) our water for Day 2. Then we will caravan back to Indian Cove. We will navigate through a sandy wash and climb out of the canyon to the Big Pine Trail intersection (4.25-mi), where we will find a place to set up camp. Finally, we will prepare and enjoy a hearty backcountry dinner. Total: 6.65-miles

Day 2: After coffee and breakfast, we’ll break down camp and continue our journey for 2.6-mi along Boy Scout Trail to the intersection of Willow Hole Trail, where we will drop our packs and find a place to set up camp. After lunch, we will continue our journey through the Wonderland of Rocks to Willow Hole, an oasis shaded by desert willows and frequented by bighorn sheep (approx. 4.6-mi round trip). Before returning to camp, we must make an important detour to retrieve our cache of drinking water. Return to camp to watch the sunrise and enjoy a well-deserved backcountry feast! Total: Total: 7.2-miles

Day 3: On our final day in Joshua Tree, we recommend waking up early to catch the desert sunrise. After coffee and breakfast, we will break down camp and retrace our steps along the Boy Scout Trail, completing our journey at Indian Cover around noon (approx. 7-mi). We will caravan back to our cars at Maze Loop Trailhead and meet up for a victory lunch at a local restaurant before returning home. Total: 7-miles

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Your Guides

Photo by Ryan Tuttle

Trip Leader Graham has a Masters in Recreation Management at California State University-Northridge and a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Health, and Exercise from the University of Nebraska. He has a collective of 5 years working for Outward Bound and various other collegiate outdoor recreation programs. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, as well as an avid climber, surfer, backpacker and backcountry skier. He is absolutely stoked to be living on the West coast where he can share his outdoor passions with others. LEARN MORE

If catching a sunrise, summiting peaks, crushing tacos, or throwing up shakas is involved, Triptographer Clare is probably close by. She majored in social media and her parents still ask if that was legitimate. She is a born and bred Californian, but she accidentally moved to Chattanooga, TN once and fell in love with the south. Hands down, the best feeling in the world is crushing a strenuous trail then crushing a beer. Lastly, her #1 goal in life is to keep the stoke alive. Shall we? LEARN MORE

Trip Level

While previous backpacking experience is not required, Shoestring Warriors must be physically fit and prepared to hike up to 7-miles with approximately 35 pounds on your back. Check out our upcoming schedule of community hikes to train with us!

First Time Shoestring Warrior?

After registration, you will receive a Welcome Kit with a customized package list, introductions to your fellow campers, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare for our trip.

Transportation is not included. While you are responsible for getting to and from Shoestring Adventures locations, we will help coordinate carpools for Shoestring Warriors leaving from Los Angeles. Passengers are expected to contribute to their driver for gas and wear & tear.

Traveling from out of town? The closest airports are Palm Springs International—45 minutes from park headquarters—and Ontario International, about an hour and a half from the park. Los Angeles International, Burbank, and Long Beach Airports are all about two to three hours away.

Plan to fly in Thursday night. You can find a place to stay on Airbnb. We will meet bright and early on Friday morning, around 8am. We will return to civilization around noon on Sunday. If you would like to join us for victory lunch at a local restaurant, plan to depart from Joshua Tree to your airport destination around 2pm.

Weather

Average high in February is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Late February and March is also when desert wildflowers begin to bloom.

Health & Safety

We take extra measures to ensure your safety and maximum level of fun. All Shoestring Adventures trip leaders hold Wilderness First Responder/CPR, Leave No Trace and Food Handling certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a DeLorme inReach Explorer Satellite Messenger to contact authorities in case of emergency.

On the trail, we encourage campers to stay together, wear sun protection and stay hydrated. We minimize risk by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to weather and our activities.

Event Photos

Time

Location

Event Details

Join us for an overnight backpacking adventure on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of five islands in Channel Island National Park.
Santa Cruz Island offers 77-miles of

Event Details

Join us for an overnight backpacking adventure on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of five islands in Channel Island National Park.

Santa Cruz Island offers 77-miles of rugged ocean cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, giant sea caves and colorful tidepools. The island is home to many distinctive plant and animal species that have adapted to the unique environment, including the Santa Cruz Island Fox, a local you will likely meet during your visit.

From Ventura Harbor, a ferry will bring us to Scorpion Anchorage. While the campground is only a short .5-mile hike from the ferry, the island has very few amenities, allowing us to slip into the backcountry and hone our skills without too much effort. Learn from our experienced guides how to pack your bag, cook in the backcountry andLeave No Trace. We’ll enjoy hikes across the island, offering panoramic coastal views and wildflower sightings and relaxing beach time. For a sneak peak, check out our previous adventure to Santa Cruz Island!

Highlights For This Adventure

Access the backcountry with just a short .5-mile hike from the ferry to the campground

Observe the Santa Cruz Island Fox and other wildlife in their natural habitat

Included With Every Shoestring Adventure

Experienced Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified trip leaders

A supportive community of Shoestring Warriors

Gourmet backcountry meals

Triptographer will join to capture the memories

Edited photos 3 weeks after your trip ends

Shoestring Warrior Adventure Kit with curated souvenirs

Permits and reservations

Shoestring Adventures operates with special use permits. A portion of your ticket goes toward protecting and preserving this park for future generations.

Your Journey

Day 1: Meet at Ventura Harbor for a 1-hour ferry ride to Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. After camp set-up and orientation, we’ll head out on a 5-mile loop day hike to Cavern Point and Potato Harbor, featuring magnificent coastal views and seasonal whale watching.

Day 2: Pack up camp before a 7-mile round-trip hike to Smuggler’s Cove. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the secluded beach before heading back to Scorpion Anchorage to catch our ferry back to Ventura Harbor.

Total: Approx. 12 miles

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Your Guides

Trip Leader Heather currently works as an Internship Coordinator at a university and is aspiring to work full time as a Life Coach, offering healing and rejuvenating outdoor activities to others. Heather has found that being in the outdoors provides people with an opportunity to slip away from the sounds of the city, exercise, release tension, gain clarity, find peace, and discover something new about yourself, among so many other things! One of her most meaningful trips was backpacking the John Muir Trail solo. She is so thankful to be a part of the Shoestring Adventures family and looks forward to getting to know you! LEARN MORE

Triptographer Stepfanie is an outdoor enthusiast, photographer, writer, and a lifelong learner. You can find her trying out a new craft or testing out how she can integrate things she enjoys. She loves connecting with adventurous and creative souls!

Trip Level

While previous backpacking experience is not required, Shoestring Warriors must be physically fit and prepared to hike up to 7-miles. Check out our upcoming schedule of community hikes to train with us!

First Time Shoestring Warrior?

After registration, you will receive a Welcome Kit with a customized package list, introductions to your fellow campers, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare for our trip.

Transportation to Ventura Harbor is not included. While you are responsible for getting to and from Shoestring Adventures locations, we will help coordinate carpools for Shoestring Warriors leaving from Los Angeles. Passengers are expected to contribute to their driver for gas and wear & tear.

Traveling from out of town? The closest airport is Santa Barbara Airport—45 minutes from the Ventura Harbor. Los Angeles International and Hollywood Burbank Airports are about one and a half hours away.

If you plan to fly in Friday night, you can find a place to stay on Airbnb. We will meet bright and early on Saturday morning, around 7:30am. We will return to civilization around 5pm on Sunday, so plan your flight accordingly.

Weather

In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. Fog is common during the late spring. Click here for current weather forecast.

Health & Safety

We take extra measures to ensure your safety and maximum level of fun. All Shoestring Adventures trip leaders hold Wilderness First Responder/CPR, Leave No Trace and Food Handling certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a DeLorme inReach Explorer Satellite Messenger to contact authorities in case of emergency.

On the trail, we encourage campers to stay together, wear sun protection and stay hydrated. We minimize risk by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to weather and our activities.

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About

Shoestring Adventures offers guided weekend camping & backpacking adventures and a supportive community for anyone who wants to experience the outdoors.

Founder Alyx Schwarz started Shoestring Adventures in 2011 following back surgery. A former triathlete and marathon runner, she rediscovered her love of the outdoors through hiking. Since then, she has devoted weekends to exploring her home state of California and invites you to come along!